NEET PG 2026 Answer Key: NBEMS to Release Key and Response Sheet for the First Time, Result by September 30
Published 9 Sept 20263 min read
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) will release the NEET PG 2026 answer key along with candidates' recorded response sheets — a first for the exam, done in compliance with the Supreme Court's April 29, 2025 order in SLP No. 9298 of 2018. Over 2.65 lakh (2,65,980) candidates who appeared for the exam on August 30 are awaiting the release. NBEMS has not yet announced the exact date, but the NEET PG 2026 result is scheduled to be declared by September 30, 2026.
NEET PG 2026 Exam Recap
- Exam date: August 30, 2026, computer-based mode, single shift, 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM
- Total questions: 180 MCQs (reduced from 200 in previous years)
- Total marks: 720
- Re-exam: Conducted on September 5, 2026, at five centres in Jaipur for over 2,400 candidates whose exam was disrupted by a power failure at the Sitapura centre
What the NEET PG 2026 Answer Key Will Show
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Question ID | Unique identification number for each of the 180 questions |
| Candidate's recorded response | The option the candidate selected for each question |
| Official correct answer | The answer NBEMS considers correct for each question |
| Marks allotted | Marks awarded to the candidate for that question |
Steps to Check and Download NEET PG Answer Key 2026
- Visit the official website — nbe.edu.in or natboard.edu.in.
- Click on the "Examinations" tab and select "NEET PG" under Entrance Examinations.
- Click the "Application Link" available under the NEET PG 2026 section.
- Click "Login" and enter your User ID and password.
- Click on the answer key and provisional response sheet link.
- Question IDs, correct answers, and your marked responses will appear on screen.
- Download and save the answer key for future reference; objections, if any, can be raised through the official portal.
NEET PG 2026 Marking Scheme
| Response | Marks |
|---|---|
| Correct answer | +4 |
| Incorrect answer | −1 |
| Unattempted | 0 |
Score formula: NEET PG 2026 score = (Total correct answers × 4) − (Total incorrect answers × 1)
NEET PG 2026 Qualifying Percentile (Category-Wise)
| Category | Qualifying Percentile |
|---|---|
| General/EWS | 50th percentile |
| General-PwBD | 45th percentile |
| SC/ST/OBC (including PwBD of SC/ST/OBC) | 40th percentile |
NEET PG 2026 Expected Cutoff vs 2025 Cutoff Scores (Out of 800)
| Category | 2026 Cutoff | 2025 Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | To be announced | 276 |
| General-PwBD | To be announced | 255 |
| SC/ST/OBC (including PwBD) | To be announced | 235 |
NEET PG 2026 Tie-Breaking Criteria
- Candidate with fewer incorrect answers overall
- Candidate with fewer incorrect answers in Section A
- Candidate with fewer incorrect answers in Sections B, C, D, and E, in that order
- Candidate with higher aggregate marks in MBBS professional examinations
- Older candidate, by date of birth
NEET PG 2026 Admission Seats and Quota Categories
| Seat Type | Approximate Seats |
|---|---|
| MD | 26,168 |
| MS | 13,649 |
| PG Diploma | 922 |
Admission through NEET PG 2026 covers All-India 50% quota seats, State quota seats, private and deemed medical colleges, Armed Forces Medical Services institutions, and Post-MBBS DNB/DrNB/Diploma courses.
FAQs
Q: Has the NEET PG 2026 answer key been released? Not yet. NBEMS has not announced an exact release date, though the result is scheduled by September 30, 2026.
Q: Is this the first time NBEMS is releasing a NEET PG answer key? Yes — this is the first year NBEMS is publishing the answer key along with candidates' recorded responses, following a Supreme Court directive.
Q: What is the NEET PG 2026 marking scheme? +4 for every correct answer and −1 for every incorrect answer; unattempted questions get no marks.
Q: When is the NEET PG 2026 result date? By September 30, 2026; NBEMS has not specified an exact time.